Prominent Turkish businessman Ali Sabancı, chairman of Esas Holding, the parent company of Pegasus Airlines, and his wife, businesswoman Vuslat Dogan Sabancı, sustained serious injuries in a boating accident off the Greek Aegean island of Leros late Thursday during their vacation, The Associated Press reported.
According to the report, the couple was aboard an inflatable speedboat en route from their yacht to the shore when the vessel crashed into some rocks, resulting in serious injuries. The Demirören news agency and various media outlets confirmed the details of the accident.
Following the accident, both Ali Sabancı and Vuslat Dogan Sabancı were quickly evacuated to the nearby Turkish resort town of Bodrum for immediate medical attention. Ali Sabanci, 54, was subsequently airlifted to an Istanbul hospital for further treatment. The specifics of their injuries were not disclosed in a statement issued by Esas Holding.
Sabancı is a member of one of Turkey’s most affluent families. He embarked on a separate entrepreneurial journey when he, along with his father and sister, founded Esas Holding. The conglomerate made a significant mark by acquiring Pegasus Airlines in 2005, eventually building it into the second-largest airline in Turkey.